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REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST: "3 
one season in advance and allow the farmers to adapt their crops to the circum- 
punces. Whenadry season comes, and an examination shows that the bugs are on 
the increase, winter wheat, wherever it is possible to doso, should be substituted for 
spring wheat, and oats, as far as possible, for corn. 
The uncertainty in reference to temperature will, perhaps, always prevent us 
from predicting with certainty that a coming year will be marked by the appear- 
ance of these insects, but we may say with assurance that a wet year will not be 
followed by a Chinch-bug year. Although this is not all we desire to know in this 
respect, it is nevertheless a very important fact and may be used to manifest ad- 
vantage by our agriculturists. 
it is proper to remark at this point that we have been speaking only of the rain- 
fall over the whole area designated and the general appearance of the Chinch-bug 
over the sanig area. 
That these insects have appeared even in injuridus numbers in limited localities 
in intermediate years, or times different from those indicated as possible Chinch- 
bug years, is certainly true. But if the theory advanced is correct when applied 
to the area designated as a whole, it will probably prove true when applied to more 
limited localities. That is to say, if the meteorological record of a given locality 
within this area for a long series of years is examined, it will probably reveal the 
fact that there is a similar periodicity in the rain-fall, though possibly not septenary. 
If this is found to be true, then the farmers of that locality will have a guide by 
which to rotate their crops and to take precautionary measures. 
It therefore becomes important for each section to keep a record, at least of the 
rain-fall; for this will be of advantage, not only in counteracting the Chinch-bugs 
but numerous otlaer species, and if the periodicity is ascertained, will enable the 
farmers to adapt their crops as far as possible to the wet or dry seasons. 
In the October (1880) number of the American Entomologist (Vol. 
III), Dr. Thomas published practically the same article as that above 
quoted and stated that the bugs would probably appear over the re- 
ion indicated in 1881, He advised in consequence the sowing of 
arge areas of oats in 1881. Professor Riley, in his Annual Re- 
port for 1881-82, page 87, mentioned this prediction and advice 
and_showed that the prediction was fulfilled in part at least by the 
occurrence of the bugs in destructive numbers in several Western 
States. With regard to the adoption of Dr. Thomas’ advice, how- 
ever, he pointed out the rather curious fact that Dr. Thomas’ own 
State (Illinois) was the only one of the large oat-producing States in 
which the acreage of this crop was not increased, but was somewhat 
diminished. Dr. Thomas, in the letter of transmittal to his report 
for 1881, announced the fulfillment of his prediction and predicted 
immunity for 1882. Professor Riley (loc. cit.) showed that in spite of 
frequent rains in the spring of 1882, and in spite of the fact that 1881 
was a Chinch-bug year, the bugs appeared in great numbers in parts 
of Illinois, Kansas, and Missouri in Apriland May, but that by June 
the reports were less alarming. The year as a whole was not marked 
by any extensive damage. 
Upon Dr. Thomas’ theory the year 1888 should not be a Chinch- 
bug year, and, while not desiring to encroach upon his prerogative 
as a seer, we are inclined to hold the same opinion concerning this 
season at least. 
Curiously enough, an anonymous writer (J. C. H. 8., of Sedgwick 
County, Kans.) in the Prairie Farmer for June 10, 1882, commenting 
upon and criticising Dr. Thomas’ theory, himself predicts that 1887 
would be a year of drought and consequently a Chinch-bug year, a 
much more daring prediction than Dr. Thomas cared to make and 
which has yet been perfectly fulfilled. According to this writer’s 
somewhat arbitrary system 1894 should again bring a severe drought. 
We introduce here, as bearing upon the rain-fall influence in the 
interesting North Carolina locality, the following table of tempera- 
ture and rain-fall at Chapel Hill, compiled by Professor Atkinson. 
